Page 59

No such luck.
My heart is beating so loudly I can hear it in my ears. The hair on the back of my neck is standing on end. I’m a rat trapped in a maze with god knows who else.
A realization hits me then. Is it him? Is it my captor?
My back hits a hard wall, and I realize I’m so very fucked. I have no way out. I open my mouth to say something and realize I can’t. It’s like my voice is frozen.
It’s dark, but the room starts to feel like it’s spinning. I let out a whimper, and I can feel tears start to pool in my eyes.
This is where I die.
The steps get closer to me, and then suddenly I can feel the body in front of me. Heat pours off the figure before me. A hand wraps around my throat, and I instantly start to claw at the hand and arm.
But it’s useless.
All of my fight leaves me the moment I see the face in front of me. A skull mask. The white of the eyes behind it. It’s then that I realize the black cloak that they are wearing.
It’s the figures from my nightmares.
Only, this isn’t a nightmare. This is actually happening.
“P-please,” I squeak out in a whisper with the hand still wrapped around my throat.
“We will always find our property,” a distorted voice comes from the figure in front of me. “Satanas libertus est.”
My eyes widen even more when I realize I have heard that before. It’s part of a chant, but I have no idea what it means. And I don’t think I want to.
The hand around my neck pulls me forward, closer to their face. “See you again, soon.”
And with a tight grip around my neck, I am forced back against the wall. All I remember is a sharp pain in my skull before the darkness takes over everything.
Chapter Twenty-Two
TRISTAN
I runa towel down my sweaty face. It’s hotter than hell out here. Fuck, the one thing I hate about Vegas is the damn heat. Double fuck, I need a shower.
“Wanna hit the strip tonight?” Kayce jumps up and down excitedly. “Bring Raelyn out for a little night out on the town. Dinner, drinks, some good old gambling shenanigans!”
“Such a waste of money to gamble,” Cameron grumbles from beside me.
“I win money, you ass,” Kayce defends.
“Oh yeah?” Cameron turns toward him. “And how much have you lost?”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. I still win some.” Kayce shrugs as he flips off Cam.
“Vegas wasn’t built on winners, dick bag.” Cameron pulls off his shirt and plops down on the bench, removing his cleats. “What a fucking waste of money.”
“Dude, what the fuck is your problem?” Drew steps up to Cam. “You have been a complete fucking asshole for weeks now.”
Cam has been completely off for a while now. I’ve been watching him just flip out for no reason, getting angry at the team, at Drew. Something is definitely wrong with him.
Of course, this all started when Raelyn came into the picture. Doesn’t take a genius to fucking see what is in front of us.
But his reasoning for hating her, or being mad that we are helping her, falls flat. We are still winning our games. We are still crushing it on the field. Something deeper seems to be going on inside his head.
“What the fuck is my problem?” Cam stands up and goes toe to toe with Drew. I look at Kayce and shake my head. These two need to get it out. “How about let’s start with you babysitting the charity case? You know nothing about her! Yet you just let her into your fucking life.”